#Definition of omnipresence full

And since, as we’ve seen, God’s power is universal, so also is his knowledge. Everything God does has an intelligent purpose, a definite goal. So his power is universal: it controls everything in the universe (Lam 3:37-38, Rom 8:28, Eph 1:11, Rom 11:33-36). We believe in Christ because he has appointed us to eternal life (Acts 13:48) and because he has opened our hearts to believe (Acts 16:14-15 cf. Our salvation is entirely the work of God’s power, not at all our own work. But he also exerts his power to save sinners, to bring forgiveness and new life (Eph 2:8-10). He controls even the decisions of wicked people, as we saw above. He decides whether we will travel or stay home (Jas 4:13-17). He knits us together in our mothers’ wombs (Psa 139:13-16). God rules not only the important events of human history but also the lives of individual people.

And he decided, once, that wicked people would take the life of his dear Son, so that we sinners might live (Acts 2:23-24). He decides whether the purposes of a ruler will stand or fall (Psa 33:10-11). He decides what king is to rule, and when, and where (Isa 44:28). He determines what nations will dwell in which territory (Acts 17:26). That includes not only the small things, but also the big things (which, after all, are accumulations of small things). Even the events we call random, that we ascribe to chance, are really God at work (Prov 16:33). This includes the smallest details of the natural world, like the falling of a sparrow or the number of hairs that grow on your head (Matt 6:26-30, 10:29-30). So how should we define God’s omnipotence more precisely? I think the most helpful definition of God’s omnipotence is this: that he has complete and total control over everything. Nor can God do things inappropriate to his nature as God, like buying shoes or celebrating his birthday. His truth is a perfect consistency of thought and action. And, since he is perfect truth, he cannot do things that are logically contradictory, like making round squares. Since God is perfectly holy and good, he cannot do anything evil. Num 23:19), nor, similarly, can he perform any immoral action.

#Definition of omnipresence full

Often we infer from these passages that God “can do anything.” But that doesn’t quite reflect the full biblical teaching. So his word always prevails, and we can trust that His prophecies always come to pass (Deut 18:21-22). He ordains sinful, disobedient actions for his good purposes. Of course, creatures do disobey him in one sense that is the essence of sin.

His word is never void of power, so when he speaks, everything in creation obeys him (Isa 55:11). Scripture affirms God’s omnipotence by saying that God does whatever he is pleased to do (Psa 115:3 cf. The prefix omni means “all,” so the three divine attributes in our title can be paraphrased by saying that God is “all-powerful, all-knowing, and everywhere present.” Let us look at these individually.